Schaumburg Amateur Radio Club Board of Directors May 2024

Board of Directors Meeting May 1, 2024

Robert Kocourek W9RKK called the meeting to order at 7:00PM

Attendees

 

Robert Kocourek W9RKK John Shofield AC9JS Daryl Jenks KB9RHR
Danny Kafka KD9HIL Paul Burkett KD9FMN Bob Benwitz N9JAX
Cliff Sowka K9QD Dennis C. Calvey KD9HIK

 Visitation held for Long-Time SARC Member Bob Langsfeld WB9TZC (SK) was well attended by fellow SARC members. We will miss him.

 Secretary’s Report

Cliff Sowka K9QD:  April BOD Meeting Minutes as published in the RHG:  Bob Benwitz N9JAX moved to approve and seconded by Danny Kafka KD9HIL.  Motion Adopted.

Treasurer’s Report:

Chris Brewer AC9GN not present.

 Public Service 

 Rob Glowacki N9MVO not present.

EMCOMM

 John Zietlow K9WIC not present.

Repeaters

 Rob Glowacki N9MVO, Terry Jarnholm AE9TJ not present.

Robert Kocourek W9RKK continues work to establish an operation manual for our machines with assistance from the Repeater Team and Kent Ochs W9KAO.

Construction Project (CP)

 

Cliff Sowka K9QD reports CP is on summer hiatus and will return in September.

VE Testing:

 John Schofield AC9JS reports there are two (2) candidates for Saturday.  John will need one more VE to conduct the session else he will postpone until June.

Nets 

 Attendance remains enthusiastic.  Need Net Control volunteer to host on Tuesdays.

Radio Hill Gazette RHG 

 Mike K9KMV No Report.

Membership

Scott DeSantis KB9VRW Membership Committee Chairman not present.

Publicity

Dennis C. Calvey KD9HIK Publicity Chairman reports the following:

  • Village of Schaumburg told John Zietlow (k9WIC) that the Village would not be utilizing volunteer Radio Operators at the Chicagoland Marathon.  I’ll be calling the Village of Schaumburg to find out more.
  • Don Dewar (KD9NJR) coordinated support of the Salvation Army Team Emergency Radio Network (SATERN) at the Mount Prospect Emergency Management Expo.  The expo was held at Mount Prospect Fire Station 14, 2000 E. Kensington Road in Mt. Prospect.  Several SARC members provided support.
  • Thursday May 2nd, Leo Ribordy (N9NBH) will be coordinating SARC’s participation in a Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) Expo at Anne Fox Elementary School in Hanover Park.

Anne Fox School is in School District 54, with a student population of about 325 students, Kindergarten thru 6th grade.   Leo, Daryl Jenks (KB9RHR), Robert Benwitz (N9JAX) and myself will be setting up demonstrations of QRP operation, Raspberry Pi, FT8 and local repeater operations.   Leo has arranged to get free promotional materials from the ARRL, and I’ll be handing out copies of QST and CQ magazines.

  • Bill Riess (KW9WR) and Don Dewar (KD9NJR) are in transit to Omaha NE with the Salvation Army Team Emergency Radio Network to provide materials and assistance in the disaster area.
  • Preparation work for Field Day publicity is under way.
  • Club Website requires update with current officers and board members.

Social  

 Need Chairperson.

Education

Leo N9NBH not present.  There is currently no answer from the Library regarding fall classroom availability for us.

Programs 

 Don Dewar KD9NJR: Need program ideas and membership presenter support.

New Business

Danny Kafka KD9HIL continues to fill gaps for Field Day; several roles undetermined at the moment.

  • Paul Burkett KD9FMN moved to approve $1K headroom for meals over the three days. Bob Benwitz K9JAX seconded.  Motion Adopted.

BOD approved the Field Day expense estimates as follows:

Friday Afternoon set-up:  $300

Saturday Dinner:                 $600

Sunday Dawn:                       $100

Friday:  Will have rather extravagant foodstuffs (who said hams don’t like food?) such as pizza available to those who help us set-up the site starting ~4PM.  A $5 donation is requested to help offset the uncalled-for expense but we’ve heard such high praise and observed high attendance for this set-up effort that we’re doing it again this year.

  • Need to decide if Lou Malnatis, Garibaldi’s or other suggestions.

Saturday Field Day placed on SARC calendar:  (for June 22-23)        April 5

Insurance documents received from Treasurer (Chris AC9GN)          April 10

Site application submitted April 16.

ARTICLE for website requested April 18.

Promotional Materials for Welcome Desk.

TAKE INVENTORY of supplies and equipment

STATION RESERVATION SCHEDULES          

STATIONS / TENT CAPTAINS

CW Bob: W9DXR

Single Side Band:  Robert W9RKK (with computer donated by Daryl)

VHF/UHF:            ___________________

 

GOTA:                  ___________________

GENERATORS will be supplied by Rob N9MVO and Daryl KB9RHR

FURNITURE TRANSPORT:   Tables and chairs from/to Tennis Club

SETUP:  John KD9VZJ, Daryl KB9RHR

TEARDOWN: Leo N9NBH, Daryl, John T, Paul KD9FMN, Jorge W9TMX, need a few others to help

TOWER CLIMBERS Friday Set-up:   Paul KD9FMN, Jorge W9TMX

SAFETY OFFICER : Dennis KD9HIK

FOOD / MEALS

FRIDAY setup Pizza, Water, Ice, Snacks

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SATURDAY

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SUNDAY breakfast coordinator:   Cliff K9QD

    • Frank Giampa N9QPD SK Memorial Buttermilk Pancakes

Not sure yet about Hotel Bacon, Sauuuusage, Hash Browns, Scrambled eggs, OE, OM, OH, real orange juice, and real Maple Syrup, surely we have enough budget headroom for pancakes.

Frank always made the best pancakes and I begged him to teach me how to do it.  He did!

We’ll enjoy Frank’s secret recipe on Sunday morning once again.

BTW:  Breakfast starts when the birds start singing and breakfast is usually over as the sun just comes up over Lake Michigan….in other words:

            • 7AM is too late.

ICE / ICE CHESTS / WATER

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PUBLIC INFORMATION TABLE:  Dennis C. Calvey KD9HIK

EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITY     Fox Hunt: Jim KB9RGU

MSSAGE ORIGINATION to ARRL Section Manager

MESSAGE HANDLING          _____________________

W1AW BULLETIN   Rob N9MVO

ADDITIONAL/SPECIAL EVENTS

Robert Zuttermeister W9GEW

TEARDOWN / CLEANUP    vacuum cleaner

cleaning and bathroom supplies

REVIEW SITE AND LOCK

SUBMIT FD RESULTS TO ARRL

John Schofield AC9JS has been providing SARC informational materials after his VE sessions and wishes to have printing budget to enhance the offerings.

  • Moved to approve $60 budget for VE team expenses. Danny KD9HIL seconded. Motion Adopted.

Discussion regarding Annual Dues.  As new Hams obtain their FCC Licenses and consider joining SARC, John notes there is some consternation regarding our cyclical renewal date of June 30.  John suggested SARC offer Complimentary Membership until the nearest Renewal Date.  Paul Burkett KD9FMN ponders a possible solution.

For example, a new member joins in May.  This new member will enjoy Complimentary Membership for ~2 months and added to SARC-ALL  immediately.  Therefore will not incur a ~$60 expense for a 14-month duration.

For example, a new member joins in July.  This new member will enjoy Complimentary Membership for ~11 months and added to SARC-ALL immediately.  Therefore will only incur first Dues expense the following June.

Paul Burkett KD9FMN agreed and BOD tabled discussion for our next Business Meeting.

Daryl Jenks KB9RHR will assist to organize Scouts JOTA this coming October 19th but he will be traveling that month.  Therefore suggests we find another SARC Member who can coordinate local Scout Leadership. 

Adjourn 8:27 PM

Submitted May 2, 2024

Cliff Sowka K9QD Secretary